Deco tile

ABSTRACT

A tile comprised of a backing material, formed in a mold or cut from a composite panel to shape desired by the user. This tile could be attached to a surface to serve as a decorative or protective surface. The present invention relates to a new and improved tile to cover a desired surface. The tile will be of varying shape to add interest and protection. In particular, the invention relates to a tile machined or molded that will be attached to surfaces. The present invention is a new and improved design that features a composite layering of backing material with or without decoration, decorative inserts encapsulated by resin that can be formed in any shape desired by the user. The composite tile could be formed in a die, a mold, or cut from a sheet. It would offer a light weight resistant surface that is appealing in appearance and functionally effective.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and improved tile to cover a desired surface. The tile will be of varying shape to add interest and protection. In particular, the invention relates to a tile that is made with clear resin that would allow different backing material and items to be inserted in the tile for visual interest.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A variety of natural stone, and man made tiles have been designed in the past. These tiles feature a wide range of materials, innovative designs, and shapes.

Traditional tile is cut from natural stone in sheets then shaped to the desired specifications in terms of thickness and surface area. The stone can get secondary processes to machine the edges or other parts of the tile piece. These pieces are then attached to a wall or floor to provide a protective and decorative surface. Tiles have also been made from ceramics, glass, and other moldable or machine able materials.

The prior patents disclose a variety materials and composites including a protective tile consisting of a layer of carbon fiber and a layer of ceramic (Tran et al). Nothing in the prior art teaches or suggests the present invention of a tile of a backing layer with a clear resin above that serves as a protective surface. The backing layer can be decorated or plain, decorative items can be put in front of the backing layer for decoration as well. This layering would then be sealed with resin. This tile could then be attached to serve as a surface covering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an innovative new surface tile, the tile features a backing layer such as a decorated fabric or thin solid material, this backing layer could also have decorative pieces such as shells, stones, dried flowers or other decorative items. The top side of the tile would be filled with a clear resin that will allow the backing layer and decorative inserts to be visible from the front surface of the tile.

The present invention is a new and improved tile that has visual interest and endless decorative possibilities. Each individual tile then is bonded to a surface such as a floor, wall, or ceiling surface. It would offer a resistant surface that is appealing and functionally effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of the specification and include general embodiments of the present invention, including the following;

FIG. 1 is an example of a mold that could be used to form the tile.

FIG. 2 is a side exploded view of the tile that would be formed from the back layer and resin layer.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the way tiles could be cut from a larger sheet.

FIG. 4 is a view of an alternative shape that could be utilized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a mold for the fabrication of a custom decorative tile. This tile would be made from a backing layer with a resin front layer. To make the tile, a mold would be created to the shape desired by the desired user. A mold release would be utilized to keep the material from bonding to the mold, then the backing layer would inserted, then surface decoration on the layer. Then decorative pieces could be inserted. Clear resin would be poured into the mold and allowed to cure. Once the resin cures, you would be left with a solid decorative tile. Once cured the hardened tile would be removed from the mold and the excessive material removed and the edges finished. Alternatively FIG. 3 represents a pattern that could be cute from a large sheet of material with the above layers. Any shape could be cut from the larger sheet to form varying shaped tiles. FIG. 4 shows how varying shapes could be molded as well.

There is a wide range of designs and configurations of tiles. One example could be a colored fabric backing with gold leaf decoration on the surface with sea shells placed on top of the fabric. The acrylic or epoxy resin poured on the surface and allowed to cure. This would form a decorative tile that could be placed on a surface. Thus, specific details of the invention as disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but simply provides a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously practice and construct the present invention in any appropriate manner. Changes may be made in the details of the construction of the tile, and in individual steps of the method of fabricating such a piece, without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as outlined in the following claims. 

1. A tile constructed of a backing layer with a resin protective layer with or without decorative pieces.
 2. A tile according to claim 1, wherein the shape may vary as per the users desire.
 3. A tile according to claim 1, wherein varying shape is formed by a mold.
 4. A tile according to claim 1, wherein the varying shape is cut from a solid sheet. 